Wool oiling system



y 37, 1953 R. HARMQN EEGQM? WOOL OILING SYSTEM Filed April 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTO A? Mew y 17, 1951 HARMQN 2560,9 19

WOOL OILING SYSTEM Filed April 22, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. we? 2 620W HWWS July 17, 1951 R. R. HARMQN 55 WOOL OILING SYSTEM Filed April 22, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 w 1 INVENTOR.

Patented July 17, 1951 WOOL OILING SYSTEM Robert R. Harmon, Charlottesville, Va., assignor to Southern Welding & Machine Company, Charlottesville, Va., a partnership Application April 22, 1948, Serial No. 22,561

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating raw wool, and specifically for applying a small amount of oil to the raw wool to replace the natural oil which is removed during the conventional scouring and clearing operations.

During the processing of raw wool for subsequent use in making yarns, fabrics and the like, it is the usual practice to subject the wool to processes for removing all of the dirt and foreign matter and in order to do that it is necessary to use detergents and other cleaning agents which also remove the major portion of the natural oil, thus leaving the wool dry and somewhat brittle. The conventional procedure for replacing this natural oil is to mix oil and water, intimately admixing steam therewith to heat the mixture and to form an emulsion, the emulsion then being applied to the spray nozzles under pressure. One of the major difliculties with these prior conventional methods is that the ratio of oil to water is rather unpredictable and is not readily controllable. Furthermore, the direct contact of the steam with the emulsion causes some of the oil to polymerize to form a jelly which causes great diificulty in the apparatus and makes it difficult to uniformly apply the oil to the wool.

' and are brought together in a mixing chamber under actively controlled temperatures and pressures so that a very stable emulsion is provided which is used in spraying the raw wool.

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful improved method and apparatus for accurately controlling an oil and water emulsion to be applied to raw wool or other appropriate fibers.

Another object is to provide an improved method and apparatus of the type mentioned above in which the temperatures of the oil and water are accurately controlled in unison, the water and oil being brought together under accurately controlled temperatures and pressures to form a stable emulsion.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the type described in which the water is heated in one tank, the oil is contained in another tank and is heated by reason of a heat exchange connection between the hot water tank and the oil tank in such a manner as to avoid local overheating of the oil which might result in the formation of a jell.

Other and further objects will become readily apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, illustrating an embodiment of the invention, and in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of apparatus em-- bodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical circuit for the electrical apparatus and the heat exchange system between the two tanks;

Figure 4 is a modified form in which the heating is done by means of steam;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing the manner in which the emulsion is delivered to a point adjacent a conveyor on which the wool might be treated; and

Figure 6 is a partial perspective view showing the detail connections of the manometers to the oil and water line.

The embodiment of the invention shown for the purpose of illustration comprises an oil reservoir l and a water reservoir 2, the outputs of which are suitably connected to a mixing chamber 3, the discharge end of which is connected to nozzles 4 by means of a conduit or pipe 6. It will be understood that the nozzles 4 would be arranged adjacent, usually just above, a suitable apron or conveyor 5 on which the wool or other fibers would be moved in a continuous manner to permit continuous processing. The reservoirs are provided appropriate sight glasses and thermometers so that the operator can readily observe the operation of the apparatus. Suitable means are provided for maintaining the reservoirs l and 2 under pressure in the form of a pipe 7 Which is connected to a suitable source of air pressure including air strainer 8 and pipes 9 and H, respectively. Suitable means in the form of a gauge I 2 is provided for indicating the pressure of the part of the air line connected to the tanks and a suitable relief valve Hl is provided for safety purposes. In order to operate the system continuously, suitable means are provided for filling the oil reservoir and the water reservoir against the air pressure. To this end a suitable pump it adapted to be driven by electric motor I 1, has its output connected by means of pipe 18 to the top of the oil reservoir. The water reservoir 2 is provided with suitable constant water level control valve is which is connected with any suitable :ourceofwaterunderpressurebymeansoi'pipe Thelowerpartoftheoilruervoir i iseonnectedtothemixingchamberibymeansofan outlet pipe 22 which is provided with a suitable oil strainer II, a needle valve 24 and a throttle orifice 20. Likewise, the lower part of the water reservoirlisconnectedtothesamemixing chamber I by means of an outlet pipe 21 which is provided with a suitable strainer 28, a needle valve a and two throttle orifices II and 32. The opposite sides of the throttle orifice 28 in the oil line is connected by means of suitable tubing 33 to a manometer 84. The throttle orifice II is connected by a suitable tubing 3' to a manometer I1 and similarly the throttle orifice I2 is connected by suitable tubing 88 to the manometer 3!. All of the manometers are of the same conventional type, being provided with suitable mercury traps at the upper ends thereof. There is only one manometer on the oil line while there are two on the water line because the now of the water must greatly exceed that of the oil and therefore it is necessary to have the two throttle orifices to obtain the necessary capacity.

One of the salient features of the present invention resides in the provision of the separate oil reservoir and water reservoir arranged in the manner previously described. together with means for heating the oil by means of heat extracted frcun the water reservoir by means of the heat exchange system. In this way the relative temperatures of the oil and water are, so to speak, tied together so that the temperature of the oil and the water vary in unison and overheating of the oil, which tends to induce the formation of jelly, is avoided. This method of controlling the temperatures will be clear by referring specifically to Figure 3 in which it will be noted that a suitable coil la is provided in the bottom of the oil reservoir and is connected by means of suitable pipes 4| and 42 to the water reservoir 2. A suitable circulating pump 43 is provided in one of the connecting pipes and is adapted to be driven by an electric motor 44, the operation of which is controlled by a suitable thermostat 46 in the oil reservoir. The water reservoir 2 is provided with a suitable electric heating unit 41, the energization of which is controlled by a suitable thermostat ll by means of appropriate relay. Both the heater and the motor 44 are operated by a suitable power source 0. It will be readily seen that the thermostat 48 controls the heating element 41 in order to maintain the desired temperature in the water reservoir I. By reason of the thermostat 46 the circulator motor 44 is appropriately controlled in such a way as to circulate a portion of the water from the water reservoir through the coil la in the oil reservoir to extract heat from the water in the reservoir 2 and transfer it to the oil in the oil reservoir I. It will be readily apparent that by reason of this arrangement the temperature of the oil can never be above the temperature of the water in the water reservoir 2 and by reason of inherent losses the temperature of the oil will always be slightly below that of the water. It will be readily apparent also that by the appropriate setting of the thermostat and its associated relay, that any desired difference in temperature a be maintained between the water and the appropriate sources of supply and are also supplied with appropriate air pressure, the needle valves 24 and 20 are proper adjusted in order get the appropriate emulsion, it being understoodthatthemixingchamberlismadeof action. It will be readily understood that an accurate mixing to provide the emulsion can be maintained by the operator by observing the relative pressures of the oil and water as indicated on the manometers. It will be readily understood that complete charts are provided for determining the manometer settings for all percentages of the mixtures and all rates of fiow required. The stable emulsion produced by this method and apparatus has the appearance of milk and a skilled operator can, within reasonable limits, determine the appropriate settings of the needle valves to accomplish the desired results.

It will be seen from the drawings and description that both of the reservoirs are connected to the same source of fluid pressure so that there is not any relative change in pressures applied to the different reservoirs. In this way the relative proportion of the oil and the liquid will be substantially unaffected by any usual fluctuations or changes in the air pressure. In order words, when the needle valves are set to provide an emulsion having the desired ratio of oil and water, this ratio will be unaffected by any usual fluctuation in the source of air pressure since the fiuid pressures in both reservoirs are changed in unison.

From the foregoing description it will be'clearly understood that the present invention provides a novel method and apparatus for mixing oil and water in the appropriate amounts and under appropriately controlled temperature conditions to provide a very stable oil-water emulsion which is very effective in treating wool or other similar fibers. By means of the novel arrangement whereby the water is heated and then a portion of that water is circulated under the thermostatic control through a coil in the oil reservoir, it is insured that local overheating of the oil is avoided. In this way any tendency for the emulsion to Jell is eliminated.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many variations are possible without departing from the inventive concept. It is therefore desired that the invention not be limited except'insofar as is made neces sary by the prior art and by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming an oil emulsion to be sprayed on raw wool fibers and the like to repiace natural oil lost during cleansing treatment comprising, an oil reservoir, a water reservoir, means for applying heat to the water in said water reservoir to maintain the same at a selected temperature, a conduit from said water reservoir extending into said oil reservoir for heating the oil indirectly to substantially the temperature of the water for emulsifying the oil, conduits extending from both reservoirs opening at a common mixing point, and means for applying equal fluid pressure to both said reservoirs for discharging a jet of the heated liquid from each reservoir, at substantially the same pressure and temperature, at said mixing point.

2. Apparatus for forming an oil and water emulsion to be sprayed on raw wool fibers and the like to replace natural oil lost during cleansing treatment comprising, an oil reservoir, a water reservoir, a mixing chamber, conduit means connecting said reservoirs to said mixing chamber, spray discharge nozzles coupled to said mixing chamber, means for heating the water in said reservoir to maintain a selected temperature therein, means for circulating controlled quantities of the heated water in said reservoir in heat exchange relation with the oil in said oil reservoir to maintain the temperature of said. oil substantially equal to the controlled water temperature to emulsify said oil, a source of fluid pressure, and conduit means for connecting said source of pressure and said reservoirs for maintaining equal pressure heads in said reservoirs on the liquid surfaces therein, and a jet of an emulsion of oil and water through said spray discharge nozzles.

3. Apparatus for forming an oil and 'water emulsion to be sprayed on raw wool fibers to re-' place natural oil lost during cleansing treatment comprising, an oil reservoir, a water reservoir, a mixing chamber, conduit means connecting each of said reservoirs to said mixing chamber, a valve in each of said conduit means for controlling the relative rates of flow of oil and water into said mixing chamber, means for heating the water in said water reservoir to maintain the selected temperature therein, temperature responsive means coupled to said heatin means to control the temperature thereof, means for circulating controlled quantities of the heated water in heat exchange relation with the oil in said oil reservoir in response to the temperature of oil in said reservoir to maintain the temperature of said oil substantially equal to the controlled water temperature and the emulsifying temperature of said oil, discharge nozzles coupled to said mixing chamber to form a fluid spray, a source of fluid pressure, and conduit means connecting said source of pressure and said reservoirs for maintaining equal pressure heads in said reservoirs on the liquid surface therein to discharge a jet of the heated liquid from each reservoir at substantially the same pressure and temperature through said mixing chamber and discharge nozzle.

ROBERT R. HARMON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 557,878 Pownall Apr. 7, 1896 821,207 Tuckfield May 22, 1906 1,351,522 Koedding et al. Aug. 31, 1920 1,522,474 Horstkotte Jan. 6, 1925 1,540,744 Badaracco June 9, 1925' 1,567,220 Williamson Dec. 29, 1925 1,568,789 Williams Jan. 5, 1926 1,642,092 Smith Sept. 13, 1927 1,820,316 Miller Aug. 25, 1931 1,825,131 Shepherd Sept. 29, 1931 1,878,560 Wier Sept. 20, 1932 1,981,405 Wrede Nov. 20, 1934 1,998,100 Shepherd et al Apr. 16, 1935 2,044,557 Alvord June 16. 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 202,922 Switzerland June 16, 1939 

